[BleachxMultiverse] - Conquering Worlds After Death

The members of Katahara Metsudo's elite guard were utterly bewildered. These were experienced martial artists, yet they couldn't make sense of what had just happened.

How had Ren, with his lean and seemingly unimposing build, managed to so effortlessly counter a strike from The Fang of Metsudo?

Even someone with an inhuman physique like Wakatsuki Takeshi shouldn't have been capable of such a feat.

Why had The Fang of Metsudo retreated into a defensive stance before the fight even began? And why had Ren, after knocking The Fang back and gaining an advantage, chosen not to pursue and finish him off?

The questions piled up, but none dared to voice them. All they could do was keep their eyes fixed on the two figures in the centre of the room—the enigmatic young man and the legendary undefeated Fang of Metsudo.

Who would come out on top?

"Your perception and adaptability far surpass Raian's," Ren remarked as if speaking to himself. "Ah, Raian is a genius from the Kure Clan. Right now, he's probably their strongest fighter."

Indeed, Kure Erioh had aged, and while Raian was currently the strongest in the Kure Clan, he hadn't yet surpassed Kure Erioh's prime.

"What's your name?" Kanoh Agito asked, speaking to Ren for the first time.

"How rude of me. I'm Ren Hoshino," he replied with a casual smile. Then, shifting into a Wing Chun-ready stance, he added, "Now, show me your 'Martial Art.'"

The title of The Fang of Metsudo was legendary in the Kengan world. Agito was known for two distinct fighting modes:

Formless – A stance-free, instinct-driven combat style that was both unpredictable and adaptable.

Martial Art (武) – A fusion of multiple martial arts, refined into a cohesive style, bolstered by the ability to use Pre-Initiative—a technique that allowed him to anticipate and counter his opponent's moves before they were even executed.

Hearing Ren's words, Agito's grin faded, replaced by a sharp focus as he switched to Martial Art.

Taking small, deliberate steps, he closed the distance between them, his movements exuding suffocating pressure. Then, without warning, a barrage of attacks began—a whirlwind of punches, kicks, and techniques, even incorporating the principles of the Niko Style.

With his immense physical strength, every strike from Agito carried the potential to incapacitate an average martial artist. Yet, to the amazement of everyone watching, not a single blow landed on Ren.

"This...This is impossible! Agito can't touch him! Who the hell is this guy?" exclaimed Omori Masamichi, one of the guards.

Omori wasn't just any member of the guard—he was the previous Fang of Metsudo. Having retired because the Kengan matches became too dull for him, he had passed the mantle to Agito.

His trained eyes quickly discerned that Agito wasn't holding back or fighting sloppily. Each strike was precise and devastating. Yet, Agito couldn't connect a single hit.

Omori knew that Agito had already grasped Pre-Initiative, the rare martial ability to read an opponent's intent and strike with perfect timing. Few fighters ever reached this pinnacle of martial skill. For someone as young as Agito to achieve it was a testament to his genius.

And yet, despite mastering Pre-Initiative, Agito couldn't even graze Ren. It was absurd.

Who was this Ren Hoshino? Could he even be considered human?

As one of Agito's heavy punches missed, Ren smoothly sidestepped, trapping Agito's extended arm between his own. Redirecting the force, Ren twisted and pulled Agito downward while using the counterforce to leap upward, driving his knee into Agito's jaw.

Bang!

The dull thud echoed as Agito's head snapped back. Before he could recover, Ren's elbow came crashing down from above, striking the back of Agito's neck.

The giant crumpled to the ground, his massive frame sprawled across the floor.

To Ren's surprise, Agito stood up again. Blood dripped from his mouth and nose, his breathing uneven, yet his gaze remained resolute.

"Oh? I didn't hold back much. Are you using the Niko Style's Indestructible?" Ren asked with a raised eyebrow.

Agito's eyes narrowed. "You know about the Niko Style!?"

"I've heard a thing or two," Ren replied with a grin. "Still up for more?"

In response, Agito immediately resumed his stance. As The Fang of Metsudo, he could not afford to lose.

No matter how overwhelmingly strong this opponent was, he would fight, climb, and evolve through the adversity. Only then could he meet the expectations of his master.

"Not bad," Ren said, nodding approvingly at Agito's determination. "I can feel your resolve. It's worthy of being called 'Martial Art.'"

The next moment, Ren vanished.

Bang!

When he reappeared, Agito's towering frame was already collapsing to the floor.

Ren calmly withdrew his hand, having landed a precise hand-blade strike. Looking toward Katahara Metsudo, he asked with a faint smile, "So, old man, have I passed?"

Metsudo burst into hearty laughter. "Boy, I was about to ask you—do you think he's passed?"

Realizing the question was about Agito, Ren paused thoughtfully before answering. "He's strong. But he still needs to grow."

Ren's assessment was candid. This iteration of The Fang of Metsudo was indeed formidable, with balanced physical attributes, refined techniques, and keen perception. Agito had even sensed Ren's lethal intent the moment before the final strike.

However, Ren had two clear advantages—his physical stats and his superior technical mastery.

That said, Agito was clearly a fighter with immense potential for growth.

In the original story, during the Kengan Annihilation Tournament, he had shown rapid improvement with every match.

Although he was ultimately defeated by Kuroki Gensai, he absorbed invaluable lessons from the master.

Even more astonishingly, later in the story, Agito encountered The Immortal Shen Wulong, which spurred another leap in his evolution. Seeing a higher peak gave him a new goal to climb—a reference for further development.

The Agito that Ren faced today was, without a doubt, the weakest version of him. If Ren had arrived in this world later, he might have met a far more formidable Agito, one who would have been a much tougher opponent.

From Ren's perspective, even Raian, with whom he had sparred for days, might currently have a better chance of defeating Agito.

However, it was hard to say for sure now. Kanoh's rapid adaptability was remarkable—just from their brief encounter, he had already evolved. A fight between Raian and him would be unpredictable.

"Needs to grow, huh…Looks like I've been a bit redundant," Katahara Metsudo sighed. He had gone as far as inviting Kuroki Gensai to the tournament to teach Kanoh a lesson, only to find his prized fighter defeated in a private sparring match before even stepping into the official ring.

Turning to Ren, Metsudo chuckled. "From this day forward, you're the new Fang of Metsudo. Though I have a feeling you don't particularly care about the title."

Ren nodded frankly. "Not really. I just needed a spot in the tournament."

"So you took down the reigning champion just to secure an entry? Your logic is certainly...unique." Metsudo laughed heartily. "Alright then, tell me—what's your price for helping me win this tournament?"

"You're straightforward, Chairman, so I'll be, too," Ren said directly. "I'll fight as your representative during the tournament and secure the championship for you. I can also help train Kanoh. But as for who you decide to appoint as the new president of the Kengan Association afterward, that's none of my concern."

Metsudo narrowed his eyes slightly, a glint of interest in his expression. "Curious. You don't strike me as the scheming type, yet you seem to have figured out my intentions…Fine, this sounds entertaining. State your condition."

"It's simple," Ren replied. "I'd like to borrow your authority as the Chairman of the Kengan Association to help me investigate something. Don't worry, it won't put you in a difficult position."

With that, Ren repeated the same request he had made to Kure Erioh.

His plan was clear: by leveraging the combined resources of the Kure Clan and Katahara Metsudo, he would narrow down the location of the Seed of Origin. Once its general whereabouts were pinpointed, he could systematically search and secure it.

After completing this task, the remaining time in this mission world would essentially be his to enjoy at leisure.

"That's an intriguing request. Let me guess—you've asked Kure Erioh for the same favor, haven't you? Kid, what exactly are you searching for?" Metsudo asked, his curiosity piqued.

"The future," Ren replied with a cryptic smile.

Metsudo pondered his answer for a moment, but refrained from prying further. Instead, his gaze shifted to Kanoh, who was slowly regaining consciousness.

"Kanoh," Metsudo said with a grin, "for the time being, Ren will be your teacher."

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[T/N] - The next chapter will be up in an hour!